Automatic lubricating journal box



" Nov. 19, 1929.- c-z. GRA'NDJEAN 7 0 AUTOIATIC LUBRICATING JOURNAL BOX Filed Feb. 9, 1926 2 Shoots-Sheet. 1

INVENER H15 ATTORNEY Nov, 19, 1929. e. GRANDJEAN AUTOMATIC LUBRICATING JOURNAL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9. 1926 ms ATTORNEY Patented vNov. .19, 1929 I TEDI STATES- PATENT-OFFICE enonensemnmm, or Lee rononrs, ISLE ADAM, FRANCE, ASSIGNQR *ro rso'rnm 1 xosconrom'rron or summon, or NEW YORK, N. Y., a coarom'rronor DELA- wm v AUTOMATIC LUBBIGATING JOURNAL BOX I Application. filed February 9, 1929,8er1al No. 888,861, and. in Switzerland November 14, 1928.

The invention'relates to automatic lubricating journal boxes, such as employed in railway cars and vehicles, in which the journal box involves a well or receptacle con- 'taining a body of oil into which a paddle or 1 blade attached to the end of the journal di s and collects a portion of the oil which is elivered to the bearing, either by gravity or by centrifugal force, according to the speed of rotation of the journal and the blade or paddleattached thereto; the journal box, in accordance with the present invention, including means for separating solid impurities from the oil before thelatter is returned to the well, so as to-insure none but pure oil 2 for delivery to the'bearing, the separating means preferably being in the form of a baffled decantation device located in the bottom of the journal box through which the oil dripping from the bearing and the journal is caused to flow in a zigzag course, so that all solid material will settle out of the oil before the latter is redelivered to the well.

Various forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical half section in which thedecantation device is formed as "a separate unit. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig 1. I

- ig. 3 is a horizontal sectionon line 3-3 of- Flg. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1- showing a modified ty e of removable decanter.

5 Fig. 5 is a etail plan view of the decanter.

Fig. 6 is av longitudinal sectionthroug h a further modification of the decanter shown inFig.4. a Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a further modification.

It has been found that, in' the operation of automatically lubricated journal boxes, continued use will cause the oil to entrain solid particles which may be detached from the walls of the box or may be abraded from the journalor the bearing which,if not removed, will be returned with 'bearing, resulting in damage to the wearing L0 surfaces and not infrequently causing .dan-

the lubricant to the,

with automatic lubricatin means, such, for an example, as'that disclosed in the prior Eveno Patent No. 1,617,205, and comprising a addle or blade 20 attached. to the end 0 the journal section 210i the axle, the said journal engaging with the usual bearing (not shown) seated on the under face of the top of the box and provided with distributing channels communicatin with the journal. In operation, the ends 0% the paddle traverse the body of oil contained inlthe wall or res- 7o ervoir 19 at the bottom of the box and pick up aportion of the oil and,.according to the speed of rotation of the axle, either allows the oil to drip onto the top of the hearing,

or else throws it against .the top of the box by centrifugal force from whence it flows onto the top of the bearing. p

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the top of the decantation apparatus constitutes the inclined fiection late 25 which receives the drippings from t e journal and bearing and deliversthe same to the inlet end of the decantation apparatus; In; other respects, theconstruction is the same as that shown in the preceding .figures. As indicated in this figure, a settling well or chamber 26 I may be provided in the bottom of the box adjacent the inlet end of thedecantation devicefor receivin the heavier particles or impurities, in w ichcase the oil. passing through the decantation device will retain only the lighter particles or impurities.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a modification in which thedecantation or separating device is formed as a separate unit 95 adapted to be applied to and removed from the journal'box as conditions'may require,

V perforations 28, 28' registermg with inlet and dischar openings in the ends of the casing 27. he interior of the casing 27 is provided with vertically alternating bafile plates extending preferably from one side wall'to the other of the casing, so that the casing includes a series of decantation pockets. The oil dripping from the bearings fallsupon the inclined plate 23, is delivered thereby to the rear end of the ]'ou rnal box, passes. through the opening 28 in the partition II enters the decantation apparatus and traverses the different decanta tion pockets in said apparatus and is ulti mately discharged from the opening 28, into the well 19, after being freed from all solid matter in its passage'through the-separator. I v Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification of the removable decantation or separating apparatus, the latter being here shown as a casing 27'having one end'provided with a series of settling cells formed by longitudinal and transverse partitions 52 and 53. The top 55 of the casing is inclined to deliver the oil dripping from the journal and bearing into the cellular compartments of the easing to facilitate the settling of the heavier material and the retention thereof in the cells.- Similarly, the oil delivered ,by the check ring 24, usually emplo ed in connection with devices of.this c aracter, falls upon an inclined section of the journal box and drips off the latter into the said cellular structure at the end of the decantation apparatus. top edges ofthe partitions 52 53 forming the cells enters the decantation apparatus where it is forced in a zigzag path over and under the bafiles and 1s ultimately discharged. through the opening in the end of the separator-into the well 19.

As shown in Fig. 6, the-removable puri-' fier or decantation device is iven aform to facilitate its ready applicatlon to and removal from the journal box, by providing the rear end thereof with a curved section "57, which also serves to retain the oil in the device when the latter-is tipped in withdrawing-the same from the'journal'box.

In order to .facilitate the How of the oil through the decanter or purifying device, the latter ma be'given the form shownin Fig. 7, with t e bottonyinclined to the horizontal to fit a- 'corrgfipondingly arranged bottom of the journal box, the baflles58 and otherof'the casing, so that the casing'includesa seriesTof decantationjpocket's inv The oil overflowing the.

box, it will be understood that any excessive accumulation of foreign material in the separator may be removed by washing the entire contents of the journal box out through the settling well 26 at the rear portion thereof, which is usuall provided with a discharge valve for such purpose. In all cases where the decantation apparatus is formed as a" separate removable unit, however, when it is found necessary to clean out the accumulated solid matter, it is necessary only to remove the purifying apparatus through the usual opening in the outer end of the journal box and replace the same by. a new one.

What I claim is:

1. An" oil purifying device for journal boxes comprising a casing separate from the box adapted to be inserted into and removed from the latter, said casing having oil bafile plates therein and being provided at one point with an oil inlet opening and at another point with an oil outlet opening.

2. An oil purifying device for journal boxes comprising a casing separate from the box adapted to be-inserted into a'ndremoved from the latter, said casing being inclusive of side, end, top and bottom walls, and bafile plates within said casing providing a tortuous passage from end to end thereof, said casing being provided with an oil inletopening communicating with one end of said passage and with an oil outlet opening communicating with the other end of said passage.

3. In combination, a'journal box adapted to contain a lubricant, an axle journaled in said box, means for delivering lubricant from said box to said axle, a air of transverse artitions cooperating w1th theisides and ottom of the box to provide a seat to receive and hold a lubricant purifying device, and

' a lubricant purifying device separate from said box removably engageable with said seat,

' device is operativelyengaged with its afore- I 'said seat. 59 extending to diQrent heights and depths and extending frdm one" side wall 'to the 4. An oil bOXeS-COIDPIiSlIlg a casing separate from the -box adapted tobe inserted intdfand removed from the latter, said casing being inclusive plates within said casing'providing a tertuous passage from end 'toend thereof, said casing being provided with an oil inlet openpurifying device for I journal of side, end, topland bottom walls, and baille' I ing' communicating with one end of said passage and with an oiloutlet opening communicating with the other end of said passage, alternate of said bafiles extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing and terminating at their upper ends in spaced relation to the top of the casing to provide a series of separate oil pockets, and the other of said battles extending downwardly from the top of the casing into said pockets in spaced relation to said first mentioned baflles and terminating at their lower ends in spaced relation to the bottom of the casing.

5. In a journal box, the combination with the bottom of the box having a Well formed therein, of means on the bottom of thebox adjacent the well for holding an oil purifying device, and a receptacle having oil inlet and outlet openings and sediment traps therein and removably engaged with said means.

6. An oil purifying device for journal boxes, comprising a casing separate from the box and adapted to be inserted into and removed from the latter,- said casing having sediment traps therein and also provided with oil inlet and outlet openings.

7. In a journal box, the combination with the bottom of the box having a Well therein, of a receptacle having an oil inlet opening and an oil outlet opening, sediment trapsin the receptacle, and means for holding said receptacle in the journal box.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature.

EORGES GRANDJEAN. 

